Rock River Journey: Day 1

By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer

Jon Gress, Jake Boucher and Garret Feik arrived at the southern tip of Lake Sinissippi, in Dodge County, Wis., a bit chilly, yet on schedule Tuesday, May 13. The three college students are now in their second day of an almost three-week kayak trip down the entire 320-mile stretch of the Rock River.

Speaking to The Rock River Times from the River, Jake Boucher reported that the water is slightly high but not dangerous or unusually fast. They met some kind and encouraging residents along the Rock last night and safely bedded down at Neider Park, in Hustisford, Wis., Boucher said.

Gress, Boucher and Feik plan to reach Harnischfeger Park, in Lebanon, Wis., by the end of the day, where they will set up camp for the night.

Boucher and Gress are Maranatha Baptist University students, while Feik is enrolled at Western Illinois University. They are making the trip to raise money for Maranatha’s sports program.  Follow their trip along the Rock River Trail at facebook.com/RockRiverStart2Finish, rockrivertimes.com, and rockrivertrail.com.

Send donations to:

Maranatha Baptist University Sabercats
745 West Main St.
Watertown, WI 53094

Online donations can be made at mbbc.edu/kayak/.

According to their initial itinerary, the men are scheduled to arrive in Rockford Wednesday, May 20. An updated plan will be posted here as they progress down river.